Nurses encourage flu shot, question mandatory policy

The B.C. Nurses Union is encouraging members to get the flu shot, while also questioning the vaccination's effectiveness. (Kirk Williams/CBC)

The B.C. Nurses Union is encouraging its members to receive the flu shot, but opposes the policy to make the vaccine or mask mandatory.

"It's about choice. Nurses are professionals, they make choices every day in providing safe patient care to citizens of B.C. and they're entitled to make choices," says union president Gayle Duteil, who received a flu shot on Monday.

Vaccination uptake is lower among nurses specifically this year than last year, according to Duteil, who says some nurses are concerned with the effectiveness of the shot.

"We've heard that some of this vaccine that's currently going around is ineffective with some of the flu virus that's currently going around in different areas, so that's a personal choice," says Duteil.

Dr. Dawar says the World Health Organization decides each spring which strains of influenza to protect for in the vaccine, so it may not be perfectly matched to the virus that ends up circulating the following winter.

However, even in the case of a mismatch, the flu vaccine provides good protection, says Dr. Dawar, who notes workers who choose not to be vaccinated still have the option to wear a mask.

Health minister hopeful vaccination rates will rise

Despite the lower vaccination rate revealed on Dec. 1, Health Minister Terry Lake says he expects compliance rates to rise among health care workers throughout the season, noting there is a delay in reporting.

"We have an obligation to very vulnerable people to protect them. And getting vaccinated against the flu is one of the simplest things we can do to protect that vulnerable population," says Lake, who is hopeful vaccination rates will eventually exceed those of last year.

"We lose about 500 people every year, that die from the flu. This is not something to shrug about," says Lake.

The policy was first introduced in B.C. in 2012, made voluntary that year after a grievance by several unions.

It became mandatory in 2013 following an arbitrator's ruling finding the rules are valid, given the seriousness of influenza.

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